Ando, K.（安藤香織）, Yorifuji, K.（依藤佳世）, Ohnuma, S.（大沼進）, Matthies, E., & Kanbara, A.（神原歩） (2014) Transmitting pro-environmental behaviours to the next generation: A comparison between Germany and Japan. 向環境行動の次世代への伝達：日独比較 Asian Journal of Social Psychology. doi: 10.1111/ajsp.12078
The present study examined the processes by which children acquire pro-environmental behaviours in different cultures. Our focus was on parental influence. Several studies have been conducted on adults’ environmental behaviours; however, we know little about how children’s environmental attitudes and behaviours are formed. We conducted a questionnaire survey with elementary school children and one of their parents in Germany and Japan. Two hundred and twenty-one pairs participated in Germany and 365 in Japan. The results of structural equation modelling showed that parents’ behaviours affected children’s environmental behaviours directly and also via the subjective norm (the children’s experienced expectations of their parents). A comparison of the two countries revealed that hypothesized cultural differences between the impact of personal norms and subjective norms were clearer for adults. The results also showed that the effects of subjective norms were stronger for children, indicating that children are more likely to be influenced by expectations of others. The results of the study suggest that for promoting children’s environmental behaviours, showing the behaviours in daily life would be most effective.